Deals and Bargains forum: Tips on filling out Rebate forms

I have always gotten all my rebates without problems. I always follow what is specified on the rebate form. Some tips on filling out rebate forms.

1 - Always write legible your name, address, ect. 2 - Always follow directions on what is needed, invoice (original or copy), upc, postmark time frame. 3 - Fill out the envelope just as shown on the rebate form. 4 - Make copies of everything. I have even asked the post office to hand stamp post mark with date and taken a picture of the envelope with my cell phone. A little extreme, but.5 - Keep track of your rebate status on line.6 - Some rebate centers also want you to first register on line, then send in the form. Do as asked.

If you follow directions, send your rebate form out prompt and follow it's progress on line, you should not have a problem.

I am batting about 50/50 on Rebates. I am convinced they are a scam.I follow all instructions to a T. And 3 months later I get a letter telling me I didn`t include something. When I know for a fact that I did. This happens too often for it to be a fluke. I`m convinced that these companies have a set percentage that they are gonna reject. No matter what. Its one thing to be cheated out of a $5 or $10 rebate. But I have been cheated out of $60 rebates. As you can tell, I`m still steamed about it.Your advice is good ... MAKE COPIES OF EVERYTHING YOU SEND IN! Even then, you are still at their mercy. Good luck.

I read somewhere that approximately less than 1/2 of 1% of all rebate offers actually get redeemed. The reason being for many people, it's often too difficult... you need to clip the UPC (bar codes)for most, others require you to highlight the purchase on your sales receipt and the biggest obstacle of all to me is those tiny little boxes on the forms that you are required to legibly fill out. All of the advice that's been offered up thus far is all correct: carefully follow all instructions, leaving nothing out, fill out the forms with as much precision as possible, make a copy of your completed rebate form along with any required UPC's and/ or box tops, etc and if at all possible, keep track of your rebates via the fulfillment company's website (if offered)

1) There's more people buying because the buzz generated by the "50% off" deal gets people's attention

2) The cost they would have incurred if they just discounted the items is significantly reduced because of the following:

As noted above, NOT ALL rebate buyers bother to mail in the rebateThe added interest income for money budgeted for rebate piles up since most rebate programs ask for a week or more for "processing"

Everyone wins... almost. Retailer wins big. Manufacturer/distributer wins by clearing out inventory. The consumer who has time to mess with rebates wins big. Other consumers... well, you know the story.

SCAMS!!! Nothing but SCAMS! I refuse to deal with any business that offers rebates. The higher the rebate amount, the less likely you will ever see it unless you want the HASSLE of fighting with the rebate people. This is a business that really needs some regulation. And the business's that use rebates should have learned by now how aggravating it is for their customers.

I do so many I had to make an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of them. One thing I sometimes do is use a return address sticker instead of filling in the boxes. You probably all get them in the mail. I have a big stack of them I've gotten with advertising. Like a whole sheet from the cancer society at Christmas time, etc. I cut off the picture and the sticker is small enough to stick on top of the boxes.

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